© Hans Hillewaert / , via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 8. Riiiiiicolaaaa!
Friday, August 8, 2025
1786: The first successful ascent of the highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, Mont Blanc. Sadly, both climbers forgot to bring their Alphorns.
History Schmistory: August 7. Otto-matic
Thursday, August 7, 2025
936: Otto the Great is elected King of the Germans.
![By Photographer: Ajepbah; edit: Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Alter_Markt_Magdeburg-Altstadt.Magdeburger_Reiter_edit.jpg)
By Photographer: Ajepbah; edit: Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 6. Rastafar-from English
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
1962: Jamaica becomes independent from Britain.
History Schmistory: August 5. The Original “Harry”
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
1100: Henry I is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. This particular Henry was not significant enough for Shakespeare, and conveniently skipped.
History Schmistory: August 4. It was good to be Queen -Mother
Monday, August 4, 2025
1900: Queen Elizabeth, ‘the Queen Mother’ is born. Not to be confused with Elizabeth II, who will most likely live forever.
![By Allan warren (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/389px-H.M._The_Queen_Mother_Allan_Warren.jpg)
By Allan warren (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 3. La Scala-kazam!
Sunday, August 3, 2025
1778: La Scala Opera House opens in Milan, Italy, with a show by F. Murray Abraham’s character in Amadeus.
![By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/800px-Milano_Teatro_alla_Scala_Postkarte_001.jpg)
By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Speaking of mediocre composers, here’s a Marco classic!
History Schmistory: August 2. Bay of Henry?
Saturday, August 2, 2025
1610: Explorer Henry Hudson enters the bay later named after him, the Hudson Bay. Since his crew mutinied and left him for dead, an apology card was also in order. It’s in a bottle, floating out there somewhere. Sorry Hud!
![By Neemster (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Henry-Hudson-posterimage.png)
By Neemster (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 1. Breathe, durn-it!
Friday, August 1, 2025
1774: Oxygen is ‘discovered’ by Britain’s Sir Joseph Priestly, and given a symbol (O), though most refer to it as “the substance formerly known as air.”
![By penner (http://flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/800px-Prince_at_Coachella.jpg)
By penner (http://flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: July 31. Houston, the Nina has landed.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
1498: Christopher Columbus and crew arrive in Trinidad. What do they bring back? …Syphilis.
!['Columbus landing at Trinidad', From Famous Voyagers and Explorers, 1893, The British Library [public domain]](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/11223728426_a95f3a7438_o-e1434734786458.jpg)
‘Columbus landing at Trinidad’, From Famous Voyagers and Explorers, 1893, The British Library [public domain]
History Schmistory: July 30. “Eat it, gravity!”
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
1918: The first parachute jump from a perfectly good aircraft, performed with flair by Frenchmen Sarret.
![Here goes nothing! V.Leers (De prins der geillustreerde bladen) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/468px-FirstParachute.png)
Here goes nothing!
V.Leers (De prins der geillustreerde bladen) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
